Melbourne: Former Australia captain Mark Taylor feels that India skipper Virat Kohli is ‘a very powerful guy’ in world cricket who does a very good job of being a statesman as well as an aggressive cricketer.
“I think he is a very powerful guy in world cricket, but I think he does a very good job to walk that fine line in being an aggressive cricketer and also a statesman. I think he’s doing it very well,” Taylor was quoted as saying by The Sydney Morning Herald.
Virat Kohli will return home after the opening Test in Adelaide, which ends on December 21. He has been granted paternity leave by the BCCI to be with his actor wife Anushka Sharma for the birth of their first child in early January.
The former Australia opener also said Kohli carries the responsibility of being an influential personality with great respect.
“I think he treats that responsibility with great respect. He’s still very much his own person when you watch him play,’ Taylor said.
“I’ve always found him in the times I’ve spoken to him to be very respectful to the game and those playing it and those who have played it,” he added.
India are scheduled to play three ODIs, three T20s and a four-Test series on the tour.
The tour will start with the three ODIs at the Sydney Cricket Ground (November 27, 29) and Manuka Oval, Canberra (December 2) followed by the three-match T20I series at Manuka Oval, Canberra (December 4 ) and the SCG (December 6, 8).
After the white ball series, the teams will participate in the Border-Gavaskar Test series, beginning with the pink-ball Test at the Adelaide Oval from December 17. It will be followed by Tests at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (December 26), the SCG (January 7) and the Gabba (January 15).
